George e



(No Model) G. E. SHOOP. STRAP FOR BOOTS 0R SHOES.

I/VI/ENTOR 5 ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 18, 1897.

WITNESSES;

t ORRIS PETERS co, PHoTo-u'ma, wasnm v UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

GEORGE E. SHOOP, OF GOLCONDA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO THOMAS IWIOGOWN, OF SAME PLACE.

STRAP FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,961, dated May 18, 1897. Application filed October 16, 1896. Serial No. 609,092. (No model) T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. SHooP, of Golconda, in the county of Pope and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Straps for Boots or Shoes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a strap for boots and shoes which will always remain sufficiently open to admit of the ready and convenient introduction of a finger, and to so construct the strap that while it will add materially to the comfort of a person drawing on articles of footwear it will not add materially to the cost.

A further object of the invention is to construct the improved strap in a simple and durable manner, and so that it willnot inconvenience the wearer when applied to a shoe.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the upper portion of a shoe, portions being broken away to illustrate the application of the improved strap thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the improved strap removed from the shoe, a portion of the outside covering being loosened from the inner covering; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the complete strap.

The strap consists, primarily, of a hollow body A of a pliable material and an elastic filling B for the said body which will impart a spring action to the same. The body A of the strap may be made from the usual material or a fabric of any description or a kindred article, and the fabric of the body may be woven or otherwise constructed in such manner that it will be tubular, or, as illustrated in the drawings, the body may be constructed from two pieces 10 and 11 of material connected near their longitudinal edges by the lines of stitching 12, cement, rivets, or other known forms of fastening devices or material.

When the body is constructed of two strips connected at their edges, the elastic filling B is introduced into the space between the two strips. The elastic material employed is preferably rubber of a suitable thickness. The strap is formed from this material in the ordinary mannernamely, by bending the material upon itself and securing the contacting ends to the upper portion of the shoe between the outer face of the lining and the leather, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The loop in the strap will be held open at all times by the inserted elastic material, which acts in the capacity of a spring, and if the loop is desired to be opened more than is usually required this may be readily accomplished by simply pressing downward upon the upper portion of the loop of the strap.

The introduced elastic material prevents the strap from stretching unduly, especially when the body portion of the strap is made of two strips=secured together at their edges. The inserted elastic material or filling also serves to strengthen the strap, adding to the lifetime thereof, and the improved strap may be constructed in an exceedingly economic manner, costing but little more than the ordinary strap, while the convenience in its use is much greater than with the strap at present employed.-

By gradually increasing the thickness of the elastic filling at the top of the strap, giving the filling a cresent shape in longitudinal section at that point, the strap will be rendered exceedingly strong.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A strap for boots and shoes, comprising a body consisting of strips of a pliable material, laid one upon the other and secured together at their side edges, and a strip of rubber located between the strips of the pliable material, between the fastening at the edges of the said body material, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A boot-strap having two strips of flexible material laid one upon the other and secured together at the side edges, and a flat spring inclosed between the strips, substantially as described.

. GEORGE E. SHOOP.

Witnesses:

MILO R. CLANAHAN, JULIUs O. MITTLER. 

